Regular Exercise Keeps Disease In Check
A recent study reveals that regular exercise can significantly improve the chances of successfully combating cancer, even in the future. The research, published on January 7 in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, shows that engaging in physical activity, including light or moderate exercises, provides protection against cancer and its progression.
The study found that individuals who participated in moderate to vigorous physical activity before being diagnosed with cancer were 47% less likely to die from the disease compared to those who were inactive. Even light exercise was beneficial, with participants having a 33% lower risk of cancer-related death compared to those who exercised not at all. The findings underscore the substantial benefits of physical activity in cancer progression and mortality, particularly in the context of an ongoing global health challenge like cancer.
Researchers analyzed data from over 28,000 people in South Africa who were diagnosed with early-stage cancers between 2007 and 2022. The most common cancers among participants were breast and prostate cancers. The study focused on the patients’ physical activity in the 12 months prior to diagnosis and compared it to the speed at which their cancer progressed. Moderate-intensity exercises, such as brisk walking or light cycling, and vigorous exercises like running or swimming, were shown to lower the risk of cancer advancing to more dangerous stages by up to 27%.
Even light exercise was linked to a 16% reduced risk of cancer progression. Additionally, the study found that the protective effects of exercise could last for up to five years after a cancer diagnosis. The researchers suggest that physical activity may help strengthen the immune system, improving the body’s ability to fight cancer, and may regulate hormones like estrogen and testosterone, which are involved in hormone-driven cancers like breast and prostate cancer.
The study’s authors recommend that public health guidelines encourage physical activity not only as a preventive measure for cancer but also as a way to reduce the risk of progression and death once cancer is diagnosed.
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